Natasha Browne is right when she says that the decision of the British think tank Policy Exchange to advise Ireland to follow the UK out of the EU demonstrates “the British superiority complex” in feeling they can determine the fate of this country.
The think tank advises that Ireland should consider leaving the EU. It is not quoted as saying we should rejoin the UK but the implication is clear.
After centuries of colonial exploitation, we still have to put up with the neighbouring former imperial power telling us what to do – or else.
It wants us to follow it in tearing up the agreement it signed with its fellow European citizens to join the EU.
The EU represents the cooperation of nearly 30 European democracies in matters of mutual interest. It replaces centuries of imperial and totalitarian conflict in Europe and is the most advanced example of such cooperation in the world.
All Ireland can say to the UK in reply is no, we will not tear up that agreement. But we should also respectfully suggest that the UK should reverse what the UK’s own think tank defines as the “massively damaging” decision to tear it up.
A Leavy,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.
FIGHT!
Europe, Brexit, Ireland (Irish Times letters page)
“After centuries of colonial exploitation, we still have to put up with the neighbouring former imperial power telling us what to do – or else.”
Nonsense, nonsense, nonsense.
What is nonsense?
We “still” have to put up with them telling us what to do? No, we don’t.
You don’t think we were exploited, by colonisation, for centuries… ?
After centuries of colonial exploitation – correct…..they weren’t here for the good of their health or for our benefit for that matter, it was named an empire for reason. It was maintained at the end of a sword / gun / cannon / gunship…. If everything was wonderfully mutually beneficial this would not have been necessary.
I would also agree broadly with the other points raised in the letter.
I’m not sure about the whole ‘colonial exploitation’.
That suggests that Ireland was a colony – which lumps us in with India, Canada, Australia, + other parts of Africa/Aisa/Americas.
Ireland was as much a part of the colonISER as Scotland, Wales or (to a lesser extent) England. The armies that built and sustained the British Empire were very strongly Irish.
Land clearances, Starvation, Forced Emigration, Slavery to the (other) colonies, oppression of an entire society for the profit of a very few, surely would constitute exploitation…
They didn’t depopulate Wales and bus in settlers from Essex, though.
Ahem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_relationship_between_the_Welsh_and_the_English#Anglo-Norman_conquest
” English settlers were sent to live in the newly created borough towns which developed in the shadow of Edward I’s castles, particularly in the south and east. Over the next few centuries, the English dominated these garrison towns, from which the native Welsh were officially excluded.”
“They imposed an English legal system, and the Welsh were not allowed to hold office in the government or church”
So the Welsh were also colonised. By the way, ‘Wales’ comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for ‘foreigner’.
Scotland too:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances
There’s no disputing we were fupped over by Britain for centuries, I don’t really get the parallels with Brexit though
Schengen?
This looks more like personal inferiority than someone else’s superiority.
Last time we were part of the United Kingdom 1.5 million people died of disease or starvation. While that could also happen under Fine Gael at least we can vote them out.
Because socialism has a great track record of keeping people fed – Soviet Russia 1932 China 1959 anyone?
Because it’s just one or the other, is it?
Reductionist stupidity.
+1
There is no single agreed definition of socialism…what your are referencing there are single party Communist States which are most certainly not socialism as I would know it. Socialism is compatible with modern democracies, again these were not democratic states.
So Prof Hill in 2nd year Soviet & Eastern Europe politics Trinity was wrong !!!
Loved that class
Appears so….
Good for you buddy. Well done on the Trinners drop as well.
Mind you don’t injure yourself making leaps like that.
Coles was being glib. So was I
Certainly not being glib. There is no difference whatsoever between 1840’s Whigs and modern Fine Gael. Very same ideology that expects the market to supply housing for people who can’t afford it.
I wouldn’t say they are exactly the same :)
I reckon the perception of FG being a let the market sort gaffs out was down to personalities…specifically noonan and to an extent coveney. I’d say coveney wanted to do more but noonan wouldn’t give him the money.
New ministers, new approach. Hopefully. The fact that Murphy and his partner spent hours sitting in queues for gaff viewings might affect his approach.
Yeah you’re right USSR wasn’t socialist. No country ever has been. It’s a fantasy. And yes socialism can be compatible with democracy. But I reckon Marx and Engels underestimated the strength of nationalism which is completely incompatible with socialism – the workers of Europe still fought each other in the trenches of Belgium, the workers of Sunderland still voted for Brexit to take control of “their borders”. Will nationalism ever pass?
Minister Eoghan Murphy’s experience of viewing houses gives him about as much of an understanding of the housing crisis as Marie-Antoinette had on French snacking.
With regards Socialism, it’s a dirty little secret that no one every tells the crazies, but Socialism is at the heart of Western civilisation.
Right, yeah. Our choices are Fine Gael or 20th century communism. That’s how it works alright. To be honest, considering how Fine Gael and the Irish right have proven them selves to be corrupt, incompetent total failures, I wouldn’t mind giving this communism thing a try.
I’m guessing you’re on for a Great Purge and show trials ? :)
What he’s basically saying is the status quo is Nazism.
State Capitalist, not Socialist.
… The Soviet Union 1932, and China 1959
Those (unfortunately) were the times.
You should read up about the Scottish famine. Much smaller scale than our own, but forced huge numbers to emigrate or starve. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Potato_Famine
Coles suggests that FG are going to be responsible for the deaths of 1.5 million people in 4 years and the people go nuts about what Steve said in reply.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the broadsheet comments section.
Have you considered the possibility that you are the only one who misunderstood my point?
I would take the NHS and BBC tho.
You can keep the BBC thanks…
You’d do without BBC4?
BBC 6 music?
BBC Radio 4?
Wow
I don’t listen to 6 Music anymore now Adam & Joe are gone.
*very sad face*
Even though Adam’s podcasts are superb.
Iiiiiiiiiii added one more podcast to the giant podcast bin
etc etc
Have you listened to Adam being interviewed on the latest Richard Herring podcast?
He tells a very funny story about trying to buy tobacco for a friend, I recommend it :)
Not yet. I saw that it was uploaded, though. I think I’m a little bit in love with Adam.
That’s understandable :)
Thanks for the wow…I’m glad I surprised you.
I’m more of a sports fan myself so would have experience of the BBC’s very one eyed, propagandist coverage and especially commentary on sports events….so yes you can keep it.
To each their own.
RTE needs to change it’s knickers when Ireland draw in any sport it covers. BBC are hardly unique in that.
The BBC is the best broadcaster in the world, hands down.
Dismissing their entire output on the basis of jingoistic sports commentary (which every national broadcaster on the globe is guilty of) is utterly ridiculous
Thanks……
Best broadcaster in the world, hands down? that is some leap….
Feel free to name a better one.
There can only be one.
https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2012/0903/439956-ocallaghanm/
besides wads of cash for farmers, funding the barely used & now tolled n3 etc.., what has the social engineering experiment that is the EU ever done for you
made me sad
The aquaducts?
Predictably this thread has turned into some anti-brit rant over stuff that happened years ago, rather than a discussion over whether the idea of Ireland exiting the EU too is a good one or not right now. Personally, I wouldn’t dismiss it from a long-term economic viewpoint. It;s also not as if the idea is that Ireland becomes part of the UK, any more than it is now. I would have actually thought that such a rabidly nationalistic nation as Ireland would welcome the chance to gain its sovereignty back.
This isn’t 1724.
The option is to sit at the table that organises and administers trade and regulation in the continent of Europe.
Or to leave the table and still accept the rules that come from that table in order to trade with it.
Cooperation isn’t subjugation and if Europe goes back to that notion of arbitrary sovereignty, there won’t be small countries like Ireland for very long.
Yeah lets just get over it. Poo happens
I mean of course let’s not do it just because they say we should
But let’s not NOT do it just because they say we should
I like the cut of your jib.
I have just solved the whole Brexit bother. Everyone in Britain who voted to leave the EU can do so. They can move to the Isle of Man. Those who want to stay in the EU, don’t move to the Isle of Man.
There you are now. That was easy.
The founders of the Common Market were all failed colonists themselves, when chased out of
the possessions they had, they then started the European venture to control the rest of Europe, they
didn’t want the British initially, but later invited them in, as they figured they had lot in “common” to coin
a phrase, what has now happened is that the British have now discovered after 40 years is that they
nothing in “common” not even a common language….and we as a nation feel that one group of colonists
will protect us and a former empire will comfort us, we must be daft:
Would Pearse have had anything to do with either of them……?